What Sequim Actually Is — and Why the Rest of the Peninsula Hasn’t Caught On
The thing about Sequim is the weather doesn’t make sense. You drive west from Port Townsend or north from Hood Canal, rain tapping the windshield the whole way, and then around the edges of the Olympic rain shadow you notice the clouds thinning. By the time you’re downtown, you’re in sunshine. The mountains block the prevailing marine weather, creating a pocket of blue sky that locals call the Sequim Blue Hole.
This quirk of geography shaped everything about the town. The dry microclimate attracted lavender growers in the 1990s when a handful of farmers discovered the soil and sunshine were well-suited for Lavandula. It attracted retirees who wanted Pacific Northwest scenery without Pacific Northwest winters. It attracted birders who know Dungeness Spit as one of the premier shorebird sites on the West Coast.
What it hasn’t attracted is the same level of tourist attention as Forks or Port Townsend. That’s your opportunity.
Getting to Sequim
Sequim sits on US-101 about 17 miles east of Port Angeles and 30 miles west of Port Townsend. From Seattle, the standard route is the Bainbridge or Kingston ferry, then US-101 west. Allow 2.5–3 hours from downtown Seattle including ferry time. From Port Townsend, it’s a 30-minute drive with no ferry required.
Sequim has its own small airport (William R. Fairchild International, shared with Port Angeles) that serves general aviation but no commercial routes. For most visitors, the drive is the only practical option.
Dungeness Spit: The Walk Worth Planning Around
The Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge contains the longest natural sand spit in the United States — a 5.5-mile hook of driftwood and tidal flat extending northwest into the Strait of Juan de Fuca. The spit protects Dungeness Bay, one of the Strait’s most productive crab and shellfish habitats, and serves as a critical migratory stopover for shorebirds and waterfowl.
Access is via a 0.5-mile bluff trail from the trailhead parking area, which drops to the base of the spit. From there, the full walk to the New Dungeness Lighthouse at the end is 5.5 miles each way — 11 miles round trip. Most day visitors walk 2–3 miles in for the perspective looking back toward the snow-capped Olympics and across the water toward Vancouver Island.
The lighthouse was built in 1857 and is maintained by a volunteer keeper organization. Lighthouse tours run on weekends in summer; the keeper’s quarters can be reserved for week-long volunteer stays by those willing to serve as temporary lighthouse keepers.
The refuge charges a small day-use fee. Dogs are not permitted on the spit due to wildlife sensitivity. Bring layers — the wind at the spit’s end is consistent regardless of what the sky looks like at the trailhead.
Lavender Country: What to Expect and When to Go
Sequim has around 14 lavender farms operating in and around the city, ranging from small boutique operations with a few acres to larger farms with gift shops and essential oil production. The Sequim Lavender Farmers Association coordinates the farm tour map, available at most local visitor spots.
Peak bloom: Mid-July, typically the second or third week. The Sequim Lavender Weekend festival falls during peak bloom and draws significant crowds — if you want the farms without the festival traffic, go the week before or after.
Purple Haze Lavender Farm on Bell Bottom Road is one of the larger operations and worth a visit for the scale of the fields alone. Olympic Lavender Heritage Farm has been growing since the early days of Sequim’s lavender era and focuses on heritage varieties. Jardin du Soleil has a well-regarded gift shop and distillery operation.
Outside of July, many farms still have dried lavender products and gift shops open, but the fields won’t be in bloom. The shoulder seasons — May-June and August-September — are when the farms are most accessible without crowds.
Sequim Bay State Park
Five miles east of downtown on US-101, Sequim Bay State Park has 1,700 feet of saltwater shoreline on Sequim Bay. The park’s location inside the rain shadow means it gets more sun than most comparable state park sites on the Peninsula. Campsites, a boat launch, and a network of forested trails make it a reasonable base for spending multiple days in the area.
The tidal flats at the park are productive for birdwatching, particularly during migration in spring and fall. The bay itself is relatively sheltered, making it a calmer kayaking destination than the exposed Strait to the north.
The Olympic Discovery Trail
The Olympic Discovery Trail runs 130 miles from Port Townsend in the east to the Pacific coast at La Push in the west, passing directly through Sequim. The Sequim section is one of the more developed and accessible segments, with a paved path suitable for cyclists and walkers running several miles through town. Bike rentals are available locally for those who want to ride a segment without bringing their own.
Where to Eat in Sequim
Oak Table Cafe: The breakfast institution in Sequim, operating since 1981 on Bell Street. The apple pancakes have been on the menu for decades and remain the thing people drive to Sequim specifically to eat. Expect a wait on weekend mornings.
Alder Wood Bistro: The strongest dinner option in town. Pacific Northwest menu with local sourcing, wood-fired cooking, and a wine list that reflects the quality of Washington’s wine country. Reservations recommended.
The Kitchen at Washington’s Hidden Coast: Part of a maritime-themed complex near the waterfront. Casual lunch and dinner with local seafood focus.
Where to Stay
Juan de Fuca Waterfront Hotel & Cottages: Waterfront cottages directly on the Strait of Juan de Fuca with views toward Victoria. One of the more distinctive lodging options on the northern Peninsula — private, quiet, positioned for sunrise views across the water.
Sequim Bay Lodge: A budget-friendly option on US-101 east of downtown, situated on 17 wooded acres on the Olympic Discovery Trail. Best for travelers prioritizing location over amenities.
For those who prefer to camp, Sequim Bay State Park is the obvious option. Reservations through the Washington State Parks system open several months in advance and are worth making early for summer weekends.
Practical Notes for Visiting Sequim
Sequim’s downtown is compact and walkable. Most of the commercial activity is along Washington Street and the adjacent blocks. The city has a full grocery store, pharmacy, and medical clinic. Olympic Medical Center’s main campus is in Port Angeles, 17 miles west.
The Dungeness Recreation Area (the spit trailhead) is managed separately from the city and has limited parking. Arriving before 9 a.m. on summer weekends virtually guarantees a spot; arriving at noon on a peak July weekend may not.
Sequim’s rain shadow is real but not absolute. Marine weather systems occasionally break through, especially in winter and fall. Checking the forecast for the specific Sequim microclimate rather than the broader “Olympic Peninsula” forecast gives a more accurate picture.
FAQ: Sequim, Washington
How do you pronounce Sequim?
“SKWIM.” One syllable. The name comes from the S’Klallam word for “quiet water.” Newcomers say “SEE-kwim” exactly once before locals correct them.
Why is Sequim so sunny compared to the rest of the Olympic Peninsula?
Sequim sits in the rain shadow of the Olympic Mountains. Prevailing Pacific weather systems move northeast and drop most of their moisture on the mountains’ windward (western and southern) slopes. By the time air reaches Sequim on the northeast side, it has dried out significantly. The result is a microclimate with roughly 16 inches of annual rainfall — dramatically less than the rainforest areas on the western Peninsula.
When is the best time to see lavender in Sequim?
Mid-July is peak bloom, typically the second or third week of the month. The Sequim Lavender Weekend festival falls during this period. For the fields without the festival crowds, the week before or after the festival offers good bloom with more manageable traffic.
How long is the hike at Dungeness Spit?
The full walk to the lighthouse and back is 11 miles round trip (5.5 miles each way). Most visitors walk 2–3 miles in. The first 0.5 miles involves a descent from the bluff trailhead to the spit itself.
Is Sequim a good base for Olympic National Park?
It’s a reasonable base for the eastern and northern park approaches. Port Angeles, 17 miles west, is a closer hub for Hurricane Ridge and the main visitor center. For the western rainforest and coast, Sequim is on the far end — you’d be looking at 1.5–2 hour drives to Hoh or Rialto Beach.
What is the Dungeness crab connection to Sequim?
Dungeness Bay, protected by the spit, is the origin of the name “Dungeness crab” — the commercially important Pacific crab species takes its common name from this bay. The area’s cold, clean waters and productive tidal flats were what the original settlers noticed when they named the location after Dungeness Point in England.
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